Green Facts of the Week

“Over 80% of executives at U.S. multinational companies rate sustainability as either essential or very important.” Source: Corporate Board.

“In one second, our sun produces enough energy to meet the current needs of the entire Earth for 500,000 years. Only 1% of U.S. electricity is generated from solar power.” Sources: Boston Globe, Energy Information Administration, The Guardian Unlimited.

Green Facts

When we are aware of our environmental footprint, we are more likely to make changes in our daily lives, walk our talk, inspire others around us to make a change as well, and our efforts will ripple out and change the world. Below are a few green facts that will help increase your awareness about our impact on the environment:

GREEN FACTS:

• In one second, our sun produces enough energy to meet the current needs of the entire Earth for 500,000 years. Only 1% of U.S. electricity is generated from solar power.” Sources: Boston Globe, Energy Information Administration, The Guardian Unlimited.
• If every U.S. household replaced one roll of regular paper towels with 100 percent recycled ones, we’d save 544,000 trees. Source: Green Life
• Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (energy efficient bulb) will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Source: Inconvenient Truth
• You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.  Source: Inconvenient Truth
• Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. You’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive! Source: Inconvenient Truth
• Over 80% of executives at U.S. multinational companies rate sustainability as either essential or very important. Source: Corporate Board.

The Better World Shopping Guide

With the holiday season in full swing, everyone is starting to think about that perfect gift. Before you head to the store, jump online, or book your travel plans this season, the Cottonwood Institute would like to encourage you to consider buying from companies that care about people and the environment. We use a book called The Better World Handbook, by Jones, Haenfler, and Johnson as a core text in several of our educational programs. In this book, there is a section called The Better World Shopping Guide that grades various companies based on their human rights, environmental, animal rights, community involvement, and social justice practices to encourage people to vote with their wallet. Below is a list of companies with a letter grade.

This holiday season, please consider buying from companies that have received an A or B and try to avoid buying from companies that have received a C, D, or F and help change the world by voting with your dollar! For a list of companies that the Cottonwood Institute endorses, please visit the Cottonwood Institute Store.

RETAIL STORES:

• A: IKEA, REI
• B: Home Depot, LL Bean
• C: Target, Best Buy, Eddie Bauer, Walgreens, Costco, BJ’s
• D: JC Penney, Maytag, Rite Aid, K-Mart, Sears
• F: Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club

CLOTHING:

• A: American Apparel, Patagonia, Lost Arrow, Maggie’s Organics, Ecolution, Diva Lifewear
• B: Levi Strauss, Timberland, Liz Claiborne, Cutter & Buck, Eileen Fisher, Reebok
• C: LL Bean, Nordstrum, Nicole Miller, Nike, Target, Gap, Mervyn’s, Guess, Ralph Lauren, Limited
• D: Fruit of the Loom, Kmart, JC Penney, Federated, Calvin Klein, LA Gear, Saks, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Kohl’s
• F: Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, May’s
   

CLEANING PRODUCTS:

• A: Seventh Generation, Dr. Bronner’s, Earth Friendly, Ecover, Planet, ECOS
• B: Simple Green, Sunshine Makers, 3M, Colgate-Palmolive, Murphy’s Oil
• C: Proctor & Gamble, Hefty, Dial, SC Johnson, Arm & Hammer, Hefty
• D: Chore Boy, Easy-Off, Glass Plus, Jet-Dry, Mop & Glo, Old English, Wizard, Playtex, Sara Lee, Reckitt Benckiser
• F: Pine Sol, Tilex, S.O.S., Liquid Plumr, Formula 409, Clorox

SUPERMARKETS:

• A: Food Co-ops, Farmers Markets, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Trader Joe’s
• B: Supervalu, A&P, Safeway, Vons
• C: Giant Food, Super G, City Markets, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Krogers, Kwik Shop, Pay Less, Loaf N Jug, Quick Stop, Ralph’s
• D: Albertson’s, Osco, Savon, Lucky’s, Thriftway, Winn-Dixie
• F: Wal-Mart
   

GENERAL FOOD:

• A: Hain, Amy’s, Annie’s, Horizon, Spectrum, Eden, Cascadian Farm, Barbara’s
• B: General Mills, Quaker, Pepsi, Pillsbury, Colgate-Palmolive
• C: Campbell’s, Kellog’s, Weight Watchers, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble
• D: Nestle, Carnation, Libby’s, Coca-Cola
• F: Kraft, Nabisco, Post, Planter’s, Oscar Meyer, Knudsen

AIRLINES:

• A: American
• B: Southwest, Delta, British Airways
• C: United, Air Alaska, US Air
• D: Continental
• F: Northwest, Korean Air

Guiding Question: What will you do this holiday shopping season to reduce your environmental footprint and help make a difference in the world?

Community Adventure Program in the Media

The Cottonwood Institute‘s core education program called the Community Adventure Program (CAP) has received some media attention recently. Students enrolled in CAP at New Vista High School recently had an article written about their environmental service project, which involved building a greenhouse at the school in order to raise an awareness of the importance of buying local and organic produce. Amy Bounds, a Staff Writer for the Daily Camera, wrote an article called New Vista Builds Greenhouse that appeared in the paper on Sunday, October 7, 2007. To download a copy of the article, Click Here.For more information about the Community Adventure Program at New Vista High School, please visit their Class Website.

The Community Adventure Program was recently replicated at P.S.1 Charter School, an urban public school in Denver, CO. CAP students at P.S.1 have been working on their environmental service project to sell reusable grocery bags in order to raise an awareness of the environmental impact of plastic grocery bags. To help students spread the word, Nicole Danna from the Colorado Daily wrote an article called "It’s In The Bag" on November 5, 2007. To download a copy of the article, Click Here.
For more information about the Community Adventure Program at P.S.1 Charter School, please visit their Class Website.

Guiding Question: When articles about high school students appear in the media, they normally have a negative spin: school shootings, drug use, vandalism, etc. What wisdom, advice, thoughts, comments, words of encouragement, etc. would you say to students in the Community Adventure Program who are getting out in their communities and making a difference in the world?

Journal Discussion for Thursday November 15, 2007

After completing our first overnight camping trip, please comment on your camping experience.  Specifically, what went well for you and what will you do differently on the next weekend camping trip?  Did you enjoy the meals that your cook group prepared and did you prepare and/or pack your food with minimal waste in terms of packaging and excessive processing?  What did you find useful and important in terms of the survival skills covered? Do you think that the service project was a worthwhile endeavor and in what ways will our efforts help Calwood to preserve and protect its forests for future use?  Please respond with two or three paragraphs and feel free to respond to the comments posted by your classmates.

Action Project: Super Saver Bags

November 5-9, 2007: In order to raise awareness about the waste caused by plastic bags, students decided to sell reusable grocery bags at local grocery stores. Proceeds raised will benefit the CAP class and the MaxFund (a no-kill animal shelter in Denver). Pictured above: David V., David S., Jesus, Candace, Perla, Leatha, Monica. 

Journal Discussions for Monday, November 5, 2007

Welcome to the Journal Discussions portion of the Community Adventure Program.  Please comment on how CAP is going so far this quarter.  Do you feel that there has been a good introduction to environmental issues in our community, and what topics have been most interesting and inspirational thus far? Are there any environmental or community based topics that you would like to explore in more depth through a guest speaker or field trip?  Please write a one or two paragraph response to this journal discussions and remember to write down your typepad access information in your journals for future postings.

Local Students Raise Awareness of Environmental Issues by Selling Reusable Grocery Bags

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Denver, CO, November 2, 2007 – According to the Sierra Club, “in the U.S. alone, we throw away 100 billion plastic bags each year — the equivalent of 12 million barrels of oil.”

The Community Adventure Program (CAP) is a student-directed class for urban high school students at PS1 Charter School in Denver, CO that takes on issues affecting the environment and works to solve them. This semester, CAP students have decided to sell cloth grocery bags to raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic bags. This class is planning on selling these reusable bags at local grocery stores during the week of November 5 – 9, 2007. An article in your media outlet will help us raise an awareness and interest in reusable grocery bags and will encourage people to make a change in their lifestyle. Bags will be available at the following Denver locations:

Monday-Tuesday, November 5-6, 11:00am – 12:30pm:
Save-A-Lot (2630 W. 38th Ave.)

Wednesday, November 7th, 12:15pm – 2:45pm:
King Soopers (1331 Speer Blvd.)
Save-A-Lot (2630 W. 38th Ave.)

Thursday-Friday, 11:00am – 12:30pm:
King Soopers (1331 Speer Blvd.)
Save-A-Lot (2630 W. 38th Ave.)

The bags will cost $3 each and half of the proceeds will be used as a class fundraiser, while the other half will be donated to the MaxFund no-kill animal shelter in Denver, CO.

To set up a time to meet the Community Adventure Program next week, to schedule an interview, or to find out more about PS1 Charter School, Community Adventure Program, or the Cottonwood Institute, please contact Megan Swanson at 303.562.6652 or via email at mswanson@ps1charterschool.org.

About PS1 Charter School:
P.S.1 Charter School, located in inner-city Denver, is a small, inclusive learning community where a diverse student body successfully prepares for post- secondary education, skilled employment and positive contributions to the world. At P.S.1, students build strong relationships, engage in relevant learning experiences and reach academic excellence. P.S.1 strives to create a community of empowered, compassionate, and contributing individuals who are informed and aware, healthy and happy, and have a passion for life long learning.

About the Community Adventure Program and the Cottonwood Institute:
The Community Adventure Program is the core program of the Cottonwood Institute, a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit based in Denver, CO that inspires high school students to change the world through an exciting blend of adventure, wilderness survival, and environmental service. For more information about the Cottonwood Institute, go to http://cottonwoodinstitute.org. For more information about the Community Adventure Program, go to http://cottonwoodinstitute.org/ps1.

Media Contact:
For media inquiries, please contact Ford Church, M. A., Founder and Executive Director at 303.447.1076 or via email at ford@cottonwoodinstitute.org.